M I N U T E S

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

2005-11-15

                                                                                            Canada Room

 

Attendance

 

Regional Councillors     F. Scarpitti                                     J. Heath                                     J. Jones                                     B. O'Donnell Councillors                   S. Daurio                                     E. Shapero                                     J. Webster                                     D. Horchik                                     K. Usman (6:20 p.m.)                                     A. Chiu

J. Livey, Chief Administrative Officer J. Baird, Commissioner of Development    Services C. Conrad, Town Solicitor B. Cribbett, Treasurer P. Miller, Manager, Secretariat Services J. Sales, Commissioner of Community & Fire    Services A. Taylor, Commissioner of Corporate Services S. Birrell, Town Clerk D. McClean, Fire Chief B. Snowball, Deputy Fire Chief J. Lustig, Director of Financial and    Client Services P. Ingham, General Manager, Operations F. Wong, Manager, Financial Planning A. Pozywiak, Director, Strategic Initiatives P. Loukes, Director, Operations & Asset    Management J. Klaus, General Manager, Waterworks

 

 

The Committee of the Whole meeting convened at the hour of 6:08 p.m. with Deputy Mayor F. Scarpitti in the Chair.

 

 

            DISCLOSURE OF INTEREST

 

None declared.

 

 

 

1.         MINUTES OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
            - OCTOBER 25, 2005 (16.0)

 

Moved by Councillor A. Chiu

Seconded by Councillor D. Horchik

 

That the minutes of the Committee of the Whole meeting held on October 25, 2005 be confirmed.

 

Carried

 

 

 

2.         PRELIMINARY 2006 WATERWORKS BUDGET
            PRESENTATION  (7.4 & 7.5)

              Presentation  

 

The Director of Financial and Client Services, presented the preliminary 2006 Waterworks Operating Budget which reflects a proposed 2006 contribution to reserves of $4.7M with an impact of a 6.1% increase in water rates effective January 1, 2006.

 

The Director, Operations, presented the 2006 full time waterworks position requests resulting from the implementation of Phase 3 of the Waterworks organizational review as well as details of the 2006 non-personnel expenditures.

 

Joel Lustig continued to present the 2005 Waterworks reserve balance of $6.5M, forecasted 2006 Waterworks reserve balance of $6M, 2006 Waterworks capital budget highlights, Waterworks reserve balances from 2000 to 2021, the impact of various water rate increases to the average household, and the need to hold a Public Meeting on December 13, 2005 to implement the increase in water rates.

 

Some discussion took place regarding the targeted reserve balance on a go forward basis, whether it would be advisable to keep the reserve balance higher than necessary, new legislation which will require certain amounts in the reserve balance, and the need to implement measures to conserve water.

 

Committee suggested that staff report back on how to build up enough reserves to meet the 2021 target reserve balance.

 

Moved by Regional Councillor B. O'Donnell

Seconded by Councillor S. Daurio

 

That the presentation by the Director, Operations regarding the preliminary 2006 Waterworks Budget, be received;

 

And that a Water Rate Increase of 6.1% (effective January 1, 2006) be approved for presentation at a Public Meeting on December 13, 2005.

 

Carried

 

 

 

3.         2006 WATERWORKS CAPITAL
            BUDGET SUBMISSIONS (7.4 & 7.5)

 

Moved by Regional Councillor B. O'Donnell

Seconded by Councillor A. Chiu

 

That the 2006 Waterworks Capital Budget Submissions be received.

 

Carried

 

 

 

4.         PATHWAY – WINTER MAINTENANCE &
            LIGHTING (5.16, 5.19)
            Report   Map  Revision  Presentation 

 

Committee had before it the November 7, 2005 staff report regarding winter maintenance and lighting of pathways in addition to a proposed recommendation resulting from discussions at the November 7, 2005 General Committee meeting.

 

Discussion took place regarding paving Aldergrove Park in 2005, the need to plough pathways to school properties in order to encourage children to walk to school and the potential liability involved.  Committee requested that staff report back to General Committee regarding the possibility of clearing and maintaining pathways to schools.

 

Moved by Councillor K. Usman

Seconded by Councillor A. Chiu

 

That the presentation by the General Manager, Operations, providing information on pathway winter maintenance and lighting, be received;

 

And that the Operations Department provide winter maintenance service on Park Pathways that meet the following three criteria:

• The pathway must be paved (i.e. hard surface comprised of asphalt, concrete or unit pavers) and be located exclusively on Park or Public lands or other lands where the municipality is satisfied that the non-Town owned pathway will also be maintained in winter.
• The pathway provides a significantly shorter or safer route for the movement of pedestrian traffic to provide a connection to public transit, schools, major commercial areas and/or traverses major parks and natural barriers between neighbourhoods.
• The pathway provides a continuous link between the neighbourhood road network

 

And that the Operations Department provide winter maintenance on pathways meeting these three criteria through Cricklewood, Royal Orchard, Ashton Meadows, Riseborough and Harvest Gate Parks throughout the 2005/2006 winter season;

 

And that the Operations Department proceed with the paving of the Aldergrove Park pathway in 2005 at an estimated cost of $10,000 and include this pathway in future pathway winter maintenance programs;

 

And that the Operations Department staff review the Towns Park Pathway inventory and identify locations where existing limestone park pathways, once paved, would meet the criteria required to qualify for winter maintenance, and provide this information in a report to Council in 2006;

 

And that the Operations Department prepare an annual Parks Pathways resurfacing program, including prioritized opportunities for the inclusion of additional pathways in the winter maintenance program, for Council’s consideration in future Capital and Operating Budget submissions;

 

And that the Operations Department provide the Urban Design Department with annual updates of the Park Pathway inventory that qualifies for and receives winter maintenance, for consideration for inclusion in the Town’s Pathway Master Plan;

 

And that the issue of clearing and maintaining pathways to schools be the subject of a further report to General Committee.

 

Carried

 

 

 

5.         2006 ADVISORY COMMITTEE/BOARD
            APPOINTMENTS  (16.24)

 

Moved by Councillor A. Chiu

Seconded by Regional Councillor J. Jones

 

Canada Day Committee

That the following persons be appointed to the Canada Day Committee for a term to expire November 30, 2006:

 

            Eddie Ting

            Adam Poon

            Everest D'Souza

            Shannon Walter

            Javaid Khan

            Ivy Lee

            Sam Sahoy

            Tara Willis

 

And that the Clerk's Department be requested to re-advertise for three (3) additional positions on the Canada Day Committee, term ending November 30, 2006;

 

Markham Accessibility Committee

That the resignation of Sherry Setnyk from the Markham Accessibility Committee be accepted with regret and a letter of appreciation forwarded.

 

Carried

 

 

Moved by Councillor K. Usman

Seconded by Councillor A. Chiu

 

That Committee of the Whole recess in-camera to discuss a legal matter.

 

Carried

 

 

Moved by Councillor K. Usman

Seconded by Councillor A. Chiu

 

That Committee of the Whole recess to convene Council.

 

Carried

 

 

 

6.         ELECTIONS – ADVANCE POLLING HOURS AND
            POLLING HOURS IN INSTITUTIONS (14.0)

              Report  By-laws 

 

Committee had before it the report from the Town Clerk dated November 15, 2005 regarding the hours and locations for advance voting in the 2006 municipal election.

 

Concern was expressed regarding holding advance voting for Ward 7 at the Milliken Mills Community Centre and about locating advance voting for Wards 7 and 8 together.  Alternative locations and options were discussed such as Middlefield High School and the Markham Chinese Alliance Church on 14^th Avenue just east of Highway 48.  It was agreed that advance voting for Wards 7 and 8 would be separated and the Town Clerk would determine a satisfactory alternate location for the Ward 7 advance poll.

 

Moved by Councillor K. Usman

Seconded by Councillor A. Chiu

 

That a by-law be adopted to establish the 2006 advance voting dates, times and locations within the Town in the form attached hereto as Schedule “A” save and except that the number of poll locations be increased by one (1) and that a separate poll location be established for both Wards 7 and Ward 8 and that the location of the poll for Ward 7 be referred to staff to determine an alternate location to Milliken Mills Community Centre;

 

And that a by-law be adopted to establish modified voting hours for institutions and retirement homes in the form attached hereto as Schedule “B”.

 

Carried as Amended

(See following motion to amend)

 

            Moved by Councillor K. Usman

            Seconded by Councillor J. Webster

 

            That the Motion of Councillors Usman and Chiu be amended to add the following words to the end of paragraph 1:

 

            "…save and except that the number of poll locations be increased by one (1) and that a separate poll location be established for both Wards 7 and Ward 8 and that the location of the poll for Ward 7 be referred to staff to determine an alternate location to Milliken Mills Community Centre;"

 

Carried

 

 

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

The Committee of the Whole meeting adjourned at 7:48 p.m.